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<p>Hustai National Park (HNP) in Mongolia lies in the forest step zone, and the northern slopes are vegetated by white birch (<i>Betula pendula</i> subsp. <i>mandshurica</i> (Regel) Ashburner &amp; McAll.) forests. It is explained that these forests are decreasing mainly because of dryness by the decrease of permafrost. HNP is a reserve where takhi or Przewalski horses (<i>Equus ferus przewalskii</i> Poliakov) were successfully restored. It is also inhabited by red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i> Linnaeus). Browsing by these ungulates seems to be another factor of birch forest mortality. Surveys were done in August, 2011. Density of fecal pellet group of red deer was higher and the mortality of birch trees was higher (62.9%) in West Forest than in East Forest (12.6%). The lowest branch height was higher (172.0&#xa0;cm) in West Forest than in East Forest (148.3&#xa0;m), probably because red deer stand on their hind legs to feed on branches, which takhi do not do. Young birch trees were browsed and showed pruned forms: about 80% of the samplings were pruned in both forests, which can hinder forest regeneration. These results suggest that the birch forest at Hustai National Park is decreasing not only by the decline of permafrost but also by browsing of red deer. We emphasized the importance of ecosystem level management focusing ungulate-vegetation relations, not only for takhi restoration, for Hustai National Park.</p>

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Effects of ungulates on birch forests in Hustai National Park, Mongolia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月16日

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  • Seiki Takatsuki,
  • Ayano Ohtsu

摘要

Hustai National Park (HNP) in Mongolia lies in the forest step zone, and the northern slopes are vegetated by white birch (Betula pendula subsp. mandshurica (Regel) Ashburner & McAll.) forests. It is explained that these forests are decreasing mainly because of dryness by the decrease of permafrost. HNP is a reserve where takhi or Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii Poliakov) were successfully restored. It is also inhabited by red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus). Browsing by these ungulates seems to be another factor of birch forest mortality. Surveys were done in August, 2011. Density of fecal pellet group of red deer was higher and the mortality of birch trees was higher (62.9%) in West Forest than in East Forest (12.6%). The lowest branch height was higher (172.0 cm) in West Forest than in East Forest (148.3 m), probably because red deer stand on their hind legs to feed on branches, which takhi do not do. Young birch trees were browsed and showed pruned forms: about 80% of the samplings were pruned in both forests, which can hinder forest regeneration. These results suggest that the birch forest at Hustai National Park is decreasing not only by the decline of permafrost but also by browsing of red deer. We emphasized the importance of ecosystem level management focusing ungulate-vegetation relations, not only for takhi restoration, for Hustai National Park.